Page 43 of Promise Me Never

Henri cocked an eyebrow. “I told you, he’s hiding something there. You need to get in and find out what.”

“You think he’s holding someone hostage?” I was joking, but I thought about all the true crime stories where that actually happened. “Don’t answer that. I didn’t mean it,” I said, shaking my head.

“If it was the basement, I’d be worried. Seriously, I’m sure there’s not a body in there, but something’s strange. I mean, to have a deadbolt on the door? It’s not like he’s got confidential patient files in there. It’s creepy AF.” Henri poured me another cup of coffee. “On second thought, maybe he killed his two fiancées. And he is hiding their bodies.”

My head snapped up. “Two? What are you talking about?”

“That’s what Isabel said. I was giving her the third degree when you were still getting dressed when we were in the city. She told me he’d been engaged twice before, but both women ended up leaving him before the wedding.”

I shook my head. “No, that can’t be right. He was engaged to a woman named Angela, but he would have told me if there was another woman. Two? You must have heard wrong.”

He shrugged. “Call Isabel. But in the meantime, I’d find a way to get into that office.”

I nodded. “There has to be a key somewhere. I mean, he can’t sleep with it.”

Henri grinned. “I’m guessing he’s not wearing any pj’s with pockets in bed.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know very well he’s not wearing anything.”

“TMI,” Henri said, then laughed because we told each other everything.

I finished my coffee, then stood. “I should get going. I need to stop by the gallery and go over the logistics for the upcoming show.

“Vic and I will be there with bells on.”

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I know you will.”

I called Isabel on my way to the gallery.

“Hey you, how’s it going?” she asked.

“Okay. Just running around getting ready for the show.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be there. I have to go to my dad’s tomorrow for a few weeks. He’s not doing well.”

“I hope he feels better. Listen, I was talking to Henri, and he mentioned that when we were in the city you told him Bennett was engaged twice before. Bennett told me about Angela, but that’s it. Is it true? Was there another?”

My stomach churned as I waited for her to answer.

“I didn’t think it was my place to say anything. It slipped out when I was talking to Henri. I was hoping he wouldn’t say anything.” She paused. “There was Angela and then a couple years later he met Devon.”

My heart sank. Why would he keep that from me? “What happened with her?”

“I never liked her. She was an aspiring model. Full of herself. A few weeks before the wedding she texted him saying she couldn’t marry him. She was moving back to Chicago.”

“Another text?”

“The digital age. The coward’s way out.”

“Iz, seriously. That’s very weird. Don’t you think?”

“I mean Bennett tried to call her, but I guess she blocked him. Her father called him a few days later. Apparently, she never made it to Chicago, and when they checked the flight, she hadn’t gotten on. It was really hard on Bennett. Maybe that’s why he didn’t say anything. After that he didn’t date for a long time. Actually, until he met you.”

“That’s so bizarre. She was never found? Do you think something bad happened? People don’t just disappear. Were the police involved?”

“Of course. They never figured it out. It’s been around four years now. So sad. It really messed with his mind. It’s up to you, but I think I’d let him bring it up. Not sure it’s a good idea for you to ask him about it.”

“I’ll think about it. Talk to you later.” I ended the call, shaken. So heartless of both women to end things like that. But then a little voice nagged at me. Why?